JP6766529B2 - In-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an in-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device.

In recent years, it has been widely practiced to provide an in-vehicle optical sensor at the front or rear of a vehicle and use an image or the like captured by the in-vehicle optical sensor. Since foreign matter such as mud may adhere to the sensing surface (lens or protective glass) of such an in-vehicle optical sensor, the in-vehicle optical sensor cleaning that injects a fluid such as gas from a nozzle to clean the sensing surface. An apparatus has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2009-83730

By the way, in recent years, in addition to the rear-view in-vehicle camera that mainly images the rear-view mirror of the vehicle backward and displays it on the display in the driver's seat, another display in the driver's seat that always images the rear of the vehicle. It is considered to provide a plurality of in-vehicle optical sensors, such as providing an in-vehicle camera for a rear-view mirror in a vehicle to display the image on the vehicle and use it as a substitute for the rear-view mirror. In such a case, a nozzle for injecting a fluid into each in-vehicle optical sensor is required, and a cleaning pattern corresponding to each nozzle (in-vehicle optical sensor) is also required. In such a case, it is conceivable that the flow path from the pump is switched by a solenoid valve, but the solenoid valve itself or electrical wiring to the solenoid valve is required.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to clean an in-vehicle optical sensor capable of cleaning a sensing surface by changing a cleaning pattern from a plurality of nozzles with a simple configuration. To provide the equipment.

The in-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device that solves the above problems is an in-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device for cleaning the sensing surface of the in-vehicle optical sensor, and includes a first pump that feeds a first fluid and the first pump. When the first fluid is fed by being connected to a pump, a first nozzle that injects the first fluid to clean the sensing surface of the first vehicle-mounted optical sensor and a second fluid that feeds the second fluid. A second pump, a second nozzle connected to the second pump and ejecting the second fluid to clean the sensing surface of the second in-vehicle optical sensor when the second fluid is fed. The other-purpose piping that enables the first fluid to be fed from the first pump to other than the first nozzle, and the pressure from the first pump when the second fluid is fed. It is provided with a switching valve that shuts off the flow path to the first nozzle.

In this structure, a first pump for feeding the first fluid, in order to wash the first fluid is connected to the first pump is fed to the sensing surface of the first vehicle optical sensor Since the first nozzle for injecting the first fluid is provided, the sensing surface of the first vehicle-mounted optical sensor can be cleaned by the first nozzle when the first fluid is fed. Further, a second pump for feeding the second fluid, the second fluid is connected to the second pump is fed the second fluid so as to clean the sensing surface of the second vehicle optical sensor Since the second nozzle for injecting the fluid is provided, the sensing surface of the second vehicle-mounted optical sensor can be cleaned by the second nozzle when the second fluid is fed. In addition, the other-purpose piping that enables the first fluid to be fed from the first pump to other than the first nozzle, and the pressure from the first pump to the first nozzle when the second fluid is fed. Since it is equipped with a switching valve that shuts off the flow path to, when the second fluid is fed, the first fluid can be concentratedly flowed to the piping for other purposes without using an electromagnetic valve. Become. Therefore, for example, the first fluid can be intensively fed to a nozzle connected to a pipe for another purpose, and the first fluid can be injected from the nozzle at a high pressure to clean the sensing surface. Further, when the second fluid is not fed, the first fluid can be fed to the first nozzle and the piping for other purposes at the same time. From these things, it is possible to clean the sensing surface by changing the cleaning pattern from a plurality of nozzles with a simple configuration.

A on-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device, prior Symbol first fluid is a gas or liquid, the second fluid, of the gas and liquid, be a different direction of fluid from said first fluid The other-purpose piping is preferably connected to a third nozzle that injects the first fluid in order to clean the sensing surface of the second in-vehicle optical sensor when the first fluid is fed.

According to the same configuration, the first nozzle injects the first fluid in order to clean the sensing surface of the first in-vehicle optical sensor when the first fluid is fed. When the first fluid is fed from the first pump when the fluid is not fed, the first fluid is injected from the first nozzle to clean the sensing surface of the first in-vehicle optical sensor. To. Further, since the other-use piping is connected to the third nozzle that injects the first fluid in order to clean the sensing surface of the second in-vehicle optical sensor when the first fluid is fed, the first When the first fluid is fed from the pump, the first fluid is ejected from the third nozzle to clean the sensing surface of the second vehicle-mounted optical sensor. Therefore, when the first fluid is fed from the first pump without being fed from the second pump, the sensing surface of the first in-vehicle optical sensor and the second in-vehicle optical sensor The sensing surface is cleaned by the first fluid.

Further, since the second nozzle injects the second fluid to clean the sensing surface of the second in-vehicle optical sensor when the second fluid is fed, the second pump is used to inject the second fluid. When the fluid is fed, the second fluid is ejected from the second nozzle to clean the sensing surface of the second vehicle-mounted optical sensor. Further, when the second fluid is fed, the flow path to the first nozzle is blocked by the switching valve, and when the first fluid is fed from the first pump, the piping for other purposes is used. The first fluid is intensively fed to the third nozzle connected to the third nozzle, and the first fluid is ejected from the third nozzle at a high pressure to clean the sensing surface of the second in-vehicle optical sensor. Nozzle. Then, since the first fluid is a gas or a liquid and the second fluid is a fluid different from the first fluid and is a liquid or a gas, one of them is a high-pressure gas and a second fluid. The sensing surface of the in-vehicle optical sensor is strongly cleaned. That is, when the second fluid is fed from the second pump and the first fluid is fed from the first pump, the sensing surface of the first vehicle-mounted optical sensor is not cleaned and the second vehicle-mounted optical sensor is not cleaned. The sensing surface of the optical sensor is strongly cleaned on one side by high pressure gas and liquid.

In the in-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device, the second nozzle and the third nozzle are such that the air injection axis of the injected gas is mixed with the injected liquid and the second in-vehicle optical sensor. It is preferable that the setting is directed toward the sensing surface of the.

According to the same configuration, the second nozzle and the third nozzle are such that the air injection axis of the injected gas is mixed with the injected liquid and is directed toward the sensing surface of the second in-vehicle optical sensor. Since it is set, the sensing surface of the second vehicle-mounted optical sensor can be strongly cleaned by the gas and the liquid mixed before reaching the sensing surface.

In the in-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device, the gas nozzle on the side that injects gas in the second nozzle and the third nozzle has a movable nozzle that can move forward and backward and advances during cleaning that injects gas. Is preferable.

According to the same configuration, the gas nozzles in the second nozzle and the third nozzle on the side that injects gas have movable nozzles that can move forward and backward and move forward during cleaning that injects gas, and thus are movable only during cleaning. With the nozzle advanced, the gas can be ejected to mix with the liquid and towards the sensing surface of the second vehicle-mounted optical sensor. That is, while the movable nozzle is moved backward during non-cleaning to prevent the second vehicle-mounted optical sensor from interfering with the sensing, the movable nozzle is moved forward during cleaning to mix the gas with the liquid and the second vehicle-mounted optical sensor. It can be sprayed onto the sensing surface of the sensor for good cleaning.

In the in-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device, the third nozzle is a movable nozzle that can move forward and backward and moves forward by the pressure of a fluid, an injection inlet that communicates with the injection port of the movable nozzle, and the movable nozzle. It is preferable to have a movable introduction port that communicates with a pressure applying chamber for applying pressure.

According to the same configuration, the third nozzle is a movable nozzle that can move forward and backward and moves forward by the pressure of a fluid, an injection inlet that communicates with the injection port of the movable nozzle, and a pressure is applied to the movable nozzle. Since it has a movable introduction port that communicates with the pressure applying chamber of the above, it is possible to inject fluid from the injection port without waste after advancing the movable nozzle. That is, in the configuration in which a single introduction port communicates with the injection port and the pressure applying chamber, there is a possibility that fluid is injected from the injection port in the process of advancing the movable nozzle, but this is avoided. can do.

In the in-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device, the first pump injects a piston that changes the volume of the compression chamber and a gas compressed by opening the valve when the compression chamber reaches a preset volume. It is preferable that the compression chamber is communicated with the movable introduction port, and the discharge port is communicated with the injection introduction port.

According to the same configuration, the first pump has a piston for varying the volume of the compression chamber and a discharge port for injecting compressed gas by opening the valve when the compression chamber reaches a preset volume. Therefore, the pressure of the gas in the compression chamber can be gradually increased, and finally the compressed gas in the compression chamber can be instantaneously discharged from the discharge port. Since the compression chamber is communicated with the movable introduction port, the gas is supplied to the pressure applying chamber through the movable introduction port when the pressure of the gas in the compression chamber is increased, and the movable nozzle Is advanced. Then, since the discharge port is communicated with the injection port, when the compression chamber has a preset volume and the valve is opened, the compressed gas in the compression chamber is instantaneously discharged from the discharge port. The gas is instantaneously injected from the injection port through the injection introduction port. Therefore, a single first pump can inject gas from the injection port after advancing the movable nozzle.

A on-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device, prior Symbol first fluid is a gas or liquid, the second fluid, of the gas and liquid, be a different direction of fluid from said first fluid The other-purpose piping is connected to the second nozzle or the flow path to the second nozzle, and the second nozzle is a second in-vehicle optical sensor when the first fluid is fed. It is preferable to inject a first fluid as well in order to clean the sensing surface of the above.

According to the same configuration, the first nozzle injects the first fluid in order to clean the sensing surface of the first in-vehicle optical sensor when the first fluid is fed. When the first fluid is fed from the first pump when the fluid is not fed, the first fluid is injected from the first nozzle to clean the sensing surface of the first in-vehicle optical sensor. To. Further, in the other-use piping, when the first fluid is fed, the flow to the second nozzle or the second nozzle that injects the first fluid to clean the sensing surface of the second in-vehicle optical sensor. Since it is connected to the road, when the first fluid is fed, the first fluid is ejected from the second nozzle to clean the sensing surface of the second vehicle-mounted optical sensor. Therefore, when the first fluid is fed from the first pump without being fed from the second pump, the sensing surface of the first in-vehicle optical sensor and the second in-vehicle optical sensor The sensing surface is cleaned by the first fluid.

Further, since the second nozzle injects the second fluid to clean the sensing surface of the second in-vehicle optical sensor when the second fluid is fed, the second pump is used to inject the second fluid. When the fluid is fed, the second fluid is ejected from the second nozzle to clean the sensing surface of the second vehicle-mounted optical sensor. Further, when the second fluid is fed, the flow path to the first nozzle is blocked by the switching valve, and when the first fluid is fed from the first pump, the piping for other purposes is used. The first fluid is intensively fed to the second nozzle connected to the second nozzle, and the first fluid is also ejected from the second nozzle at a high pressure to clean the sensing surface of the second in-vehicle optical sensor. Nozzle. Since the first fluid is a gas or a liquid and the second fluid is a fluid different from the first fluid and is a liquid or a liquid, one of the high-pressure gas and the liquid is mixed. The gas-liquid mixed fluid strongly cleans the sensing surface of the second vehicle-mounted optical sensor. That is, when the second fluid is fed from the second pump and the first fluid is fed from the first pump, the sensing surface of the first vehicle-mounted optical sensor is not cleaned and the second vehicle-mounted optical sensor is not cleaned. The sensing surface of the optical sensor is strongly cleaned by a high pressure gas-liquid mixed fluid.

In the in-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device of the present invention, it is possible to clean the sensing surface by changing the cleaning pattern from a plurality of nozzles with a simple configuration.

The schematic block diagram of the vehicle in one Embodiment. The schematic block diagram of the in-vehicle optical sensor cleaning apparatus in one Embodiment. Explanatory drawing for demonstrating the washer nozzle and pop-up nozzle in one Embodiment. Sectional drawing of the pop-up nozzle in one Embodiment. Sectional drawing of the pop-up nozzle in one Embodiment. Sectional drawing of the switching valve in one Embodiment. Sectional drawing of the switching valve in one Embodiment. The schematic block diagram of the in-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device in another example.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the vehicle will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7.
As shown in FIG. 1, a back door Ba is provided behind the vehicle S, and the back door Ba serves as a rear-view mirror vehicle-mounted camera 1 as a first vehicle-mounted optical sensor and a second vehicle-mounted optical sensor. The vehicle-mounted camera 2 for the back door is provided. The lens surface 1a as the sensing surface of the rear-view mirror in-vehicle camera 1 is exposed toward the rear of the vehicle (approximately horizontal direction), and the lens surface 2a as the sensing surface of the rear-view in-vehicle camera 2 is obliquely downward toward the rear of the vehicle. Be exposed. The rear-view mirror vehicle-mounted camera 1 always images the rear of the vehicle S, and transmits the captured image to the rear-view mirror type display DSP1 in the vehicle for display. For example, when the shift lever SL of the transmission is operated to the reverse position, the back vehicle-mounted camera 2 captures an image of an obliquely downward rear portion of the vehicle S, and transmits the captured image to the display DSP2 in the vehicle for display.

Further, the vehicle S is provided with an air pump AP as a first pump for supplying air which is a gas as a first fluid and a second pump for supplying a cleaning liquid which is a liquid as a second fluid. The washer pump WP is provided. The air pump AP of the present embodiment is capable of injecting high-pressure air compressed in the cylinder at once (instantaneously).

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, in the air pump AP, the piston 4 is reciprocally supported in the tubular pump case 3, and a compression chamber is formed between the tip of the piston 4 and the inner surface on the tip side of the pump case 3. 5 is secured.

A drive shaft 6 having a screw engraved on the outer peripheral surface is screwed into the piston 4. The base end of the drive shaft 6 is connected to the output shaft 7a of the motor 7. Then, when the drive shaft 6 rotates in the normal direction due to the operation of the motor 7, the piston 4 moves to the tip side (left side in FIG. 2) of the pump case 3 to reduce the volume of the compression chamber 5 and inside the compression chamber 5. Air is pressurized (compressed). Further, when the drive shaft 6 is reversed by the operation of the motor 7, the piston 4 is relocated to the base end side (right side in FIG. 2) of the pump case 3 to increase the volume of the compression chamber 5 and inside the compression chamber 5. Air is decompressed.

A movable outlet 3a that communicates the inside and outside of the compression chamber 5 is formed in a part of the pump case 3 in the circumferential direction on the tip side.
Further, a discharge port 3b is provided at the tip of the pump case 3, and when the compression chamber 5 has a preset volume between the compression chamber 5 and the discharge port 3b, the moving piston 4 is operated (pressed). A discharge valve 8 is provided which is opened (opened). Specifically, the discharge valve 8 is attached in a direction in which the coil spring 9 closes the communication hole between the compression chamber 5 and the discharge port 3b and is in a direction opposite to the forward movement direction (that is, the recovery direction) of the piston 4. It is being pushed. The discharge valve 8 is provided with an operating rod 8a that protrudes toward the piston 4, and when the operating rod 8a is pressed by the tip of the moving piston 4, the compression chamber 5 and the discharge port 3b communicate with each other. It is designed to do.

Therefore, when the piston 4 moves forward to compress the air in the compression chamber 5 and the piston 4 presses the operation rod 8a, the compressed high-pressure air in the compression chamber 5 is instantaneously discharged from the discharge port 3b ( Is jetted). The movable outlet 3a is for supplying a certain amount of air for a device described later, and is inside the compression chamber 5 when the pressure of the gas in the compression chamber 5 is increased. A certain amount of air is derived from, and the compression chamber 5 is set to a size sufficient to generate compressed high-pressure air even if the constant amount of air is derived.

Further, the piston 4 is provided with a suction valve (umbrella valve) X. The suction valve X is opened when the piston 4 is reactivated and the inside of the compression chamber 5 becomes negative pressure, and air is introduced into the compression chamber 5 from the outside of the pump case 3 through the communication holes 10a, 10b, 10c. ..

Further, the washer pump WP continuously supplies the cleaning liquid stored in the storage tank T.
Further, a lens is connected to the air pump AP at a position near the rear-view mirror in-vehicle camera 1 of the vehicle S via a switching valve 31, which will be described later, and air is supplied from the air pump AP (discharge port 3b). An air nozzle 11 is provided as a first nozzle for cleaning the surface 1a.

The air nozzle 11 is arranged above the lens surface 1a, and when air is supplied, the air is injected toward the lens surface 1a in order to clean the lens surface 1a.
Further, a washer as a second nozzle is connected to the washer pump WP at a position near the back in-vehicle camera 2 of the vehicle S and cleans the lens surface 2a based on the cleaning liquid being supplied from the washer pump WP. A nozzle 12 is provided.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the washer nozzle 12 is arranged above the lens surface 2a, and when the cleaning liquid is fed, the cleaning liquid is ejected from the injection port 12a. As shown in FIG. 3, the injection port 12a injects the cleaning liquid WA in a film shape by narrowing the width of the pair of facing surfaces.

Further, a third nozzle connected to the air pump AP and cleaning the lens surface 2a based on the air being supplied from the air pump AP (discharge port 3b) at a position near the back in-vehicle camera 2 of the vehicle S. And a pop-up nozzle 13 as a gas nozzle is provided.

As shown in FIG. 2, in the present embodiment, the in-vehicle camera 2 for back, the washer nozzle 12, and the pop-up nozzle 13 are assembled into a unit by assembling to the mounting frame 14, and the unit is attached to the back door Ba of the vehicle S. It is fixed.

The pop-up nozzle 13 is arranged on the side of the lens surface 2a and has a movable nozzle 15 that can move forward and backward and moves forward during cleaning by injecting gas.
Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, in the pop-up nozzle 13, a substantially cylindrical movable nozzle 15 can appear and disappear in the substantially cylindrical case 16 and is supported so as to be able to move forward and backward, and the movable nozzle 15 is supported. An injection port 17 opened at a tip thereof in a direction substantially perpendicular to the forward / backward traveling direction is provided.

A base end closing member 18 is externally fitted and fixed to the base end side of the case 16. The base end closing member 18 is provided with a tubular passage pipe 18a extending in the forward direction of the movable nozzle 15 in the case 16, and the passage pipe 18a is inserted (internally fitted) into the tubular movable nozzle 15. The movable nozzle 15 is supported so as to be able to move forward and backward along the case 16 and the passage pipe 18a. Further, the base end closing member 18 has an injection introduction port 19a which is outside the case 16 and communicates with the injection port 17 via the passage pipe 18a while extending to the side opposite to the passage pipe 18a. The joint portion 19 of 1 is provided.

In the case 16, a coil spring 20 is arranged around the movable nozzle 15. One end of the coil spring 20 is in contact with the flange portion 15a provided at the base end portion of the movable nozzle 15, and the other end is abutted and supported by the tip end portion of the case 16. The movable nozzle 15 is always urged in the reverse (immersive) direction (to the right in FIGS. 4 and 5) by the urging force of the coil spring 20 having the tip of the case 16 as a fulcrum.

Further, on the base end side of the case 16, a pressure applying chamber 21 partitioned by a base end portion (flange portion 15a) of the movable nozzle 15 is provided. A seal rubber 15b is fixed to the base end portion (flange portion 15a) of the movable nozzle 15, and the seal rubber 15b is in close contact (sliding contact) with the inner peripheral surface of the case 16 and the outer peripheral surface of the passage pipe 18a. The airtightness of the pressure applying chamber 21 is maintained. Further, the base end closing member 18 has a second movable introduction port 22a that is outside the case 16 and extends in a direction perpendicular to the first joint portion 19 and communicates with the pressure applying chamber 21. A joint portion 22 is provided.

Then, when air is supplied into the pressure applying chamber 21 through the movable introduction port 22a, the pop-up nozzle 13 applies the pressure of the cleaning liquid to the base end portion (flange portion 15a) of the movable nozzle 15. The movable nozzle 15 advances outward from the case 16 against the urging force of the coil spring 20 (see FIG. 5). In a state where air is not supplied to the movable introduction port 22a, the movable nozzle 15 moves backward (immersed) by the urging force of the coil spring 20 (see FIG. 4).

Further, when air is supplied from the injection port 19a, the pop-up nozzle 13 injects the air from the injection port 17.
As shown in FIG. 3, in the injection port 17 of the pop-up nozzle 13 (movable nozzle 15), the air injection axis Z of the air HA to be injected with the movable nozzle 15 advanced is the injection port 12a of the washer nozzle 12. It is set so as to mix (air HA) with the cleaning liquid WA jetted from and toward the lens surface 2a. From a different point of view, the injection port 17 of the pop-up nozzle 13 is set so that the air injection axis Z of the air HA to be injected passes through the cleaning liquid WA injected from the injection port 12a of the washer nozzle 12 and faces the lens surface 2a. Has been done. In other words, the injection port 17 of the pop-up nozzle 13 is set so that the air injection axis Z of the injected air faces the lens surface 2a, and the injection port 12a of the washer nozzle 12 is such that the cleaning liquid WA to be injected is the air injection axis Z. Is set to intersect with.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, when the cleaning liquid is supplied from the washer pump WP to the vehicle S, the pressure thereof blocks the flow path from the air pump AP (discharge port 3b) to the air nozzle 11 to allow air to flow to the vehicle S. A switching valve 31 is provided that enables concentrated flow to the pop-up nozzle 13 via the application pipe H8.

Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the switching valve 31 includes a substantially cylindrical case 32, a cylinder member 33 fixed to one open end side of the case 32, and an open end of the cylinder member 33. A cleaning liquid introduction member 34 fixed to the side and a lead-out member 35 fixed to the other open end side of the case 32 are provided.

An air introduction portion 32a is formed in the axially intermediate portion of the case 32 so as to project outward in the radial direction from a part of the outer circumference thereof and communicate with the inside and outside. Further, an inward extending portion 32b extending inward in the radial direction is formed on one opening end side (left side in FIGS. 6 and 7) of the case 32.

The cylinder member 33 is formed in a substantially bottomed tubular shape, and is inserted and fixed at a position where the bottom side thereof comes into contact with the inward extension portion 32b from one open end side of the case 32.
Inside the cylinder member 33, a piston member 37 having a seal member 36 fitted on the outer periphery thereof is slidably housed and held along the axial direction (in the left and right directions in FIGS. 6 and 7). The piston member 37 is provided with a central hole at the bottom of the cylinder member 33 and a pressing shaft 37a penetrating the inward extension 32b. A seal member 38 that is in close contact (sliding contact) with the pressing shaft 37a is provided on the inner circumference of the inner extension portion 32b. Then, at the open end of the cylinder member 33, a cleaning liquid introduction portion 34a that extends in a tubular shape and communicates with the cylinder chamber 39 on the base end side (left side in FIGS. 6 and 7) of the piston member 37 in the cylinder member 33. The cleaning liquid introduction member 34 having the above is fixed.

The lead-out member 35 is formed in a substantially bottomed tubular shape, and its opening end side is inserted and fixed from the other opening end side of the case 32. At the bottom of the lead-out member 35, an inward-extending tube portion 35a extending toward the inward-extending portion 32b and a lead-out portion 35b projecting to the outer side opposite to the inward-extending tube portion 35a and communicating with the inside of the case 32. Is provided.

A substantially tubular valve member 40 is movably housed and held in the case 32 on the outside of the inwardly extending cylinder portion 35a in the axial direction (in the left and right directions in FIGS. 6 and 7). A valve body 41 that closes the open end of the valve member 40 is fixed to the end of the valve member 40 on the inner extension portion 32b side. Further, a plurality of communication holes 40a (four at 90 ° intervals in this embodiment) are formed in the circumferential direction on the inner extension portion 32b side of the valve member 40 so as to penetrate in the radial direction and communicate inside and outside. Further, the lead-out member 35 accommodates a coil spring 42 that urges the valve member 40 (valve body 41) toward the inward extension portion 32b while being supported by the bottom portion thereof.

Then, the pressing shaft 37a of the piston member 37 abuts and presses against the valve body 41 to oppose the valve body 41 and the valve member 40 against the urging force of the coil spring 42 (in FIGS. 6 and 7). It is possible to move it (to the right). When the valve body 41 is not pressed by the pressing shaft 37a, the valve body 41 abuts on the inward extending portion 32b by the urging force of the coil spring 42, and when pressed by the pressing shaft 37a, the opening of the inward extending cylinder portion 35a. It is provided so as to close the end.

As a result, in the switching valve 31, when the cleaning liquid is not supplied to the cleaning liquid introduction unit 34a, the air introduction unit 32a is communicated with the lead-out unit 35b via the communication hole 40a and the inner extension cylinder portion 35a (FIG. 6). reference). Further, in the switching valve 31, when the cleaning liquid is supplied into the cylinder chamber 39 via the cleaning liquid introduction portion 34a, the piston member 37 moves to the bottom side of the cylinder member 33, and the valve body 41 and the valve are provided by the pressing shaft 37a. The member 40 is moved (to the right in FIGS. 6 and 7) against the urging force of the coil spring 42. Then, the opening end of the inward extension cylinder portion 35a is closed by the valve body 41, and the air introduction portion 32a and the lead-out portion 35b are blocked (see FIG. 7).

Then, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the air pump AP (the discharge port 3b thereof) is connected to the air introduction portion 32a of the switching valve 31 via the pipe H1 and the common pipe H2, and the pipe is connected to the cleaning liquid introduction portion 34a. The washer pump WP is connected via the H3 and the common pipe H4. Further, the air nozzle 11 is connected to the lead-out portion 35b via the pipe H5.

Further, the washer pump WP is connected to the washer nozzle 12 via the pipe H6 and the common pipe H4.
Further, the movable outlet 3a of the air pump AP is connected to the movable introduction port 22a of the pop-up nozzle 13 via the pipe H7, and the compression chamber 5 is communicated with the movable introduction port 22a. Further, the discharge port 3b of the air pump AP is connected to the injection introduction port 19a of the pop-up nozzle 13 via the other-purpose pipe H8 and the common pipe H2.

Then, the air pump AP and the washer pump WP are electrically connected to the control unit 51 and are driven and controlled by the control unit 51.
When the control unit 51 receives a signal to start cleaning, for example, when the operation switch SW provided in the vehicle is operated or when the shift lever SL of the transmission is operated to the reverse position. , The washer pump WP and the air pump AP are driven and controlled to clean the lens surfaces 1a and 2a.

When the control unit 51 injects only air from the air nozzle 11 or the pop-up nozzle 13, such as when water droplets or the like are attached to the lens surface 1a of the rear-view mirror in-vehicle camera 1 or the lens surface 2a of the rear-view in-vehicle camera 2. , Drives only the air pump AP.

Further, when the control unit 51 injects high-pressure air from the pop-up nozzle 13 while injecting the cleaning liquid from the washer nozzle 12, such as when dry mud or the like adheres to the lens surface 2a of the back-mounted in-vehicle camera 2. , Washer pump WP and air pump AP are driven.

Next, the operation of the in-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device configured as described above will be described.
First, in the non-cleaning state, when the air pump AP and the washer pump WP are not driven, the movable nozzle 15 of the pop-up nozzle 13 is set to be in a reverse (immersive) state by the urging force of the coil spring 20, and the movable nozzle 15 Is prevented from interfering with the imaging of the back-mounted vehicle-mounted camera 2. At this time, in the switching valve 31, the valve body 41 comes into contact with the inner extension portion 32b by the urging force of the coil spring 42, and the air introduction portion 32a communicates with the out-out portion 35b via the communication hole 40a and the inner extension cylinder portion 35a. (See FIG. 6).

Then, for example, when water droplets or the like are attached to the lens surface 1a of the rear-view mirror in-vehicle camera 1 or the lens surface 2a of the rear-view in-vehicle camera 2, the operation switch SW is operated to inject only air. Then, the air pump AP is driven. Then, air is supplied from the air pump AP to the air nozzle 11 via the switching valve 31, and air is supplied from the air pump AP to the pop-up nozzle 13. Then, air is injected from the air nozzle 11 onto the lens surface 1a of the rear-view mirror in-vehicle camera 1. At this time, air is supplied to the pressure applying chamber 21 of the pop-up nozzle 13 when the pressure of the gas in the compression chamber 5 of the air pump AP is increased, the movable nozzle 15 advances, and then compression is performed. When the compressed gas in the chamber 5 is instantaneously discharged from the discharge port 3b, air is injected from the injection port 17 of the pop-up nozzle 13 (movable nozzle 15). As a result, water droplets and the like adhering to the lens surfaces 1a and 2a are blown off, and the lens surfaces 1a and 2a are washed.

Further, for example, when dry mud or the like is attached to the lens surface 2a of the in-vehicle camera 2 for backing and the operation switch SW is operated to inject air and the cleaning liquid, the washer pump WP and the air pump The AP is driven. At this time, when the cleaning liquid is supplied from the washer pump WP to the cleaning liquid introduction portion 34a (cylinder chamber 39) of the switching valve 31, the piston member 37 moves to the bottom side of the cylinder member 33 due to the pressure, and the pressing shaft 37a The valve body 41 and the valve member 40 are moved against the urging force of the coil spring 42 (see FIG. 7). Then, the opening end of the inner extension cylinder portion 35a is closed by the valve body 41, the flow path from the air pump AP (discharge port 3b) to the air nozzle 11 is blocked, and the air from the air pump AP pops out via the other-purpose pipe H8. It will flow intensively to the nozzle 13. Further, when the cleaning liquid is supplied from the washer pump WP to the washer nozzle 12, the cleaning liquid is ejected from the washer nozzle 12. Then, air is supplied to the pressure applying chamber 21 of the pop-up nozzle 13 when the pressure of the gas in the compression chamber 5 of the air pump AP is increased, the movable nozzle 15 advances, and then the inside of the compression chamber 5 When the compressed gas is instantaneously discharged from the discharge port 3b, air is injected from the injection port 17 of the pop-up nozzle 13 (movable nozzle 15). Then, as shown in FIG. 3, fine particles of the cleaning liquid WA mixed before reaching the lens surface 2a are sprayed on the lens surface 2a together with the high-pressure air HA, and the dry mud and the like adhering to the lens surface 2a are washed away. The lens surface 2a is cleaned.

In the present embodiment, the rear-view mirror in-vehicle camera 1 always displays the captured image on the rear-view mirror type display DSP 1. For example, even if mud or the like adheres to the lens surface 1a, the driver immediately (mud). Since there is a high possibility that it will be noticed (before the etc. dries) and cleaning with a cleaning liquid is rarely required, only air is injected.

On the contrary, in the back-mounted in-vehicle camera 2, the captured image is displayed on the display DSP2 only when the shift lever SL is operated to the reverse position. For example, even if mud or the like adheres to the lens surface 2a, the driver There is a high possibility that mud and the like will dry without being noticed, and cleaning with a cleaning liquid is often required. Therefore, it is possible to inject the cleaning liquid and high-pressure air.

Next, the characteristic effects of the above embodiment will be described below.
(1) An air pump AP that supplies air, an air nozzle 11 that is connected to the air pump AP and cleans the lens surface 1a based on the air being fed, a washer pump WP that feeds the cleaning liquid, and a washer pump WP. It is provided with a washer nozzle 12 that is connected to and cleans the lens surface 2a based on the cleaning liquid being fed. Further, it is provided with a piping H8 for other purposes that enables air to be supplied from the air pump AP to other than the air nozzle 11, and a switching valve 31 that shuts off the flow path from the air pump AP to the air nozzle 11 by the pressure when the cleaning liquid is supplied. Therefore, without using a solenoid valve, it is possible to intensively flow air to the other-purpose pipe H8 (pop-up nozzle 13) when the cleaning liquid is supplied. Therefore, for example, it is possible to intensively supply air to the pop-up nozzle 13 via the other-purpose pipe H8 and inject air from the pop-up nozzle 13 (its injection port 17) at a high pressure to clean the lens surface 2a. it can. Further, when the cleaning liquid is not fed, air can be fed to the air nozzle 11 and the pop-up nozzle 13 at the same time. From these facts, it is possible to clean the lens surfaces 1a and 2a by changing the cleaning pattern from a plurality of nozzles with a simple configuration.

(2) Since the first fluid is air and the second fluid is a cleaning liquid, the lens surface 2a of the back-mounted in-vehicle camera 2 can be strongly cleaned by the high-pressure gas and liquid. Specifically, for example, it is possible to blow off dry mud or the like while melting it.

(3) The pop-up nozzle 13 is set so that the air injection axis Z of the injected air is mixed with the cleaning liquid injected by the washer nozzle 12 and faces the lens surface 2a of the back-mounted in-vehicle camera 2. The lens surface 2a can be strongly cleaned by the air and the cleaning liquid mixed before reaching the lens surface 2a.

(4) Since the pop-up nozzle 13 has a movable nozzle 15 that can move forward and backward and advances during cleaning by injecting air, the movable nozzle 15 is kept advanced only during cleaning so that air is mixed with the cleaning liquid. It can be ejected toward the lens surface 2a of the back vehicle-mounted camera 2. That is, when the movable nozzle 15 is not washed, the movable nozzle 15 is moved backward to prevent the back vehicle camera 2 from interfering with the imaging, and when the movable nozzle 15 is moved forward, the air is mixed with the cleaning liquid to prevent the back vehicle camera 2 from being imaged. It can be satisfactorily cleaned by spraying on the lens surface 2a of 2.

(5) The pop-up nozzle 13 applies pressure to apply pressure to the movable nozzle 15 that can move forward and backward and moves forward by the pressure of the fluid, the injection introduction port 19a that communicates with the injection port 17 of the movable nozzle 15, and the movable nozzle 15. Since it has a movable introduction port 22a communicating with the chamber 21, the fluid can be injected from the injection port 17 without waste after the movable nozzle 15 is advanced. That is, if a single introduction port is in communication with the injection port and the pressure applying chamber, there is a risk that fluid will be injected from the injection port in the process of advancing the movable nozzle. It can be avoided.

(6) The air pump AP has a piston 4 for varying the volume of the compression chamber 5 and a discharge port 3b for injecting compressed air by opening the valve when the compression chamber 5 reaches a preset volume. Therefore, the pressure of the air in the compression chamber 5 can be gradually increased, and finally the compressed air in the compression chamber 5 can be instantaneously discharged from the discharge port 3b. Since the compression chamber 5 communicates with the movable introduction port 22a, air flows into the pressure applying chamber 21 via the movable introduction port 22a when the pressure of the air in the compression chamber 5 is increased. It is supplied and the movable nozzle 15 is advanced. Since the discharge port 3b is communicated with the injection introduction port 19a, when the compression chamber 5 has a preset volume and the valve is opened, the compressed air in the compression chamber 5 is instantaneously discharged. It is discharged from 3b, and the air is instantaneously injected from the injection port 17 via the injection introduction port 19a. Therefore, a single air pump AP can inject air from the injection port 17 after advancing the movable nozzle 15.

The above embodiment may be modified as follows.
-In the above embodiment, the other-purpose pipe H8 is connected to the pop-up nozzle 13 as the third nozzle, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the other-purpose pipe H8 may be connected to another nozzle.

For example, it may be changed as shown in FIG. In this example, the washer nozzle 12 as the second nozzle of the above embodiment injects air when air is supplied, and when air and cleaning liquid are supplied, they are internally mixed and a gas-liquid mixed fluid. It is said that the nozzle 61 ejects as. A washer pump WP is connected to the nozzle 61, and an air pump AP is connected to the nozzle 61 via a pipe H8 for another purpose. Even in this way, if the cleaning liquid is not supplied from the washer pump WP but air is supplied from the air pump AP, the lens surface 1a of the rear-view mirror in-vehicle camera 1 and the lens surface 2a of the rear-view in-vehicle camera 2 become Cleaned by air. Further, when the cleaning fluid is supplied from the washer pump WP and air is supplied from the air pump AP, the lens surface 1a of the rear-view mirror in-vehicle camera 1 is not cleaned, and the lens surface 2a of the rear-view in-vehicle camera 2 has a high pressure. It is strongly washed with a gas-liquid mixed fluid. In this example, the other-purpose pipe H8 is connected to the nozzle 61, but the other-purpose pipe H8 is connected to the flow path to the nozzle 61, that is, the pipe H6, and the cleaning liquid and air are connected until the nozzle 61 is reached. May be mixed and injected from the nozzle 61. Further, in the case of these examples, of course, the movable outlet 3a of the air pump AP becomes unnecessary. Further, in such a case, the air pump AP may be a diaphragm type or an impeller type.

-In the above embodiment, the pop-up nozzle 13 means that the air injection axis Z of the injected air is mixed with the cleaning liquid injected by the washer nozzle 12 before reaching the lens surface 2a and toward the lens surface 2a. Although it is set, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the washer nozzle 12 may also inject the cleaning liquid toward the lens surface 2a.

-In the above embodiment, the third nozzle is a pop-up nozzle 13 having a movable nozzle 15 that can move forward and backward and moves forward at the time of cleaning by injecting air, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the movable nozzle 15 is not provided. It may be changed to a (non-movable) nozzle. Further, the pop-up nozzle 13 has an injection port 19a and a movable introduction port 22a, but has a single introduction port, and the introduction port communicates with the injection port and the pressure applying chamber. It may be a pop-up nozzle of the configuration. In these cases, of course, the movable outlet 3a of the air pump AP becomes unnecessary.

-In the above embodiment, an example in which the washer pump WP and the air pump AP operate based on the operation of the operation switch SW has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the control unit 51 includes the rear-view mirror in-vehicle camera 1 and the back. The washer pump WP and the air pump AP may be driven based on the captured image of the vehicle-mounted camera 2 (determining the degree of dirtiness).

-In the above embodiment, the cleaning target (sensing surface) is the lens surface 1a of the rear-view mirror vehicle-mounted camera 1 and the lens surface 2a of the rear-view mirror vehicle-mounted camera 2, but the cleaning device is not limited to this. It may be an in-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device having one or three cleaning targets.

-In the above embodiment, the first pump is an air pump AP, the first fluid is air, the second pump is a washer pump WP, and the second fluid is a cleaning liquid, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the reverse In addition, the first pump may be a washer pump, the first fluid may be a cleaning liquid, the second pump may be an air pump, and the second fluid may be air. Of course, the first pump, the first fluid, the second pump, and the second fluid may be appropriately changed while adopting the configuration of the above alternative example. For example, the first and second pumps may be air pump APs and the first and second fluids may be air, or the first and second pumps may be washer pumps WP and the first and second fluids may be cleaning fluids. ..

-The switching valve 31 of the above embodiment may be changed to another configuration as long as it operates in the same manner as that of the above embodiment.

1 ... In-vehicle camera for back mirror (first in-vehicle optical sensor), 1a ... Lens surface (sensing surface), 2 ... In-vehicle camera for back (second in-vehicle optical sensor), 2a ... Lens surface (sensing surface), 3b ... Discharge port, 4 ... Piston, 5 ... Compression chamber, 11 ... Air nozzle (first nozzle), 12 ... Washer nozzle (second nozzle), 13 ... Pop-up nozzle (third nozzle and gas nozzle), 15 ... Movable nozzle, 17 ... Injection port, 19a ... Injection inlet, 21 ... Pressure application chamber, 22a ... Movable introduction port, 31 ... Switching valve, 61 ... Nozzle (second nozzle), Z ... Air injection axis, AP ... Air pump (first pump), H8 ... Other application piping, WP ... Washer pump (second pump).

Claims (7)

An in-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device for cleaning the sensing surface of an in-vehicle optical sensor.
The first pump that feeds the first fluid and
A first nozzle connected to the first pump and ejecting the first fluid to clean the sensing surface of the first vehicle-mounted optical sensor when the first fluid is fed.
A second pump that feeds the second fluid,
A second nozzle connected to the second pump and ejecting the second fluid to clean the sensing surface of the second vehicle-mounted optical sensor when the second fluid is fed.
Other-purpose piping that enables the first fluid to be fed from the first pump to other than the first nozzle, and
An in-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device including a switching valve that shuts off a flow path from the first pump to the first nozzle by the pressure of the second fluid supplied. The in-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device according to claim 1.
Before SL first fluid is a gas or liquid,
The second fluid, of the gas and liquid, wherein the first fluid is a different person fluid,
The other applications pipe is characterized in that the first fluid is connected to a third nozzle for injecting a first fluid in order to clean the sensing surface of the second vehicle optical sensor and fed In-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device. The in-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device according to claim 2.
The second nozzle and the third nozzle are
An in-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device characterized in that the air injection axis of the injected gas is set so as to be mixed with the injected liquid and toward the sensing surface of the second in-vehicle optical sensor. The vehicle-mounted optical sensor cleaning device according to claim 3.
The second nozzle and the gas nozzle on the gas injection side of the third nozzle are capable of moving forward and backward, and have a movable nozzle that advances during cleaning that injects gas. apparatus. The in-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device according to claim 2 or 3 .
The third nozzle
A movable nozzle that can move forward and backward and moves forward by the pressure of fluid,
An injection port that communicates with the injection port of the movable nozzle,
An in-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device characterized by having a movable introduction port communicating with a pressure applying chamber for applying pressure to the movable nozzle. The vehicle-mounted optical sensor cleaning device according to claim 5.
The first pump has a piston that changes the volume of the compression chamber, and a discharge port that injects compressed gas by opening the valve when the compression chamber reaches a preset volume.
The compression chamber is communicated with the movable introduction port.
An in-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device characterized in that the discharge port is communicated with the injection port. The in-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device according to claim 1.
Before SL first fluid is a gas or liquid,
The second fluid, of the gas and liquid, wherein the first fluid is a different person fluid,
The other-purpose pipe is connected to the second nozzle or the flow path to the second nozzle, and is connected to the second nozzle.
The second nozzle is an in- vehicle optical sensor cleaning device, characterized in that when the first fluid is fed, the first fluid is also injected to clean the sensing surface of the second in-vehicle optical sensor.

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